Man arrested after school is put into lockdown over ‘gun’ scare

A MAN has been arrested after allegedly toting a toy gun near a primary school.

Police were called to the scene and teachers ordered to ‘lock down’ their classrooms after several members of the public reported seeing a ‘white male’ carrying what they thought to be a ‘weapon’.

The man, who was reportedly wearing dark clothes, was approached by officers shortly after the alarm was raised at 12.30pm near Inverlochy Primary School in Fort William, Inverness-shire.

It was later confirmed that the gun was a fake.

Police last night said a man was in custody following the incident near the school. Inspector Mike Middlehurst, of Police Scotland, said: ‘We received numerous reports from members of the public about the behaviour of a man near the centre of Fort William.

‘I can confirm that the man has now been arrested and is in police custody.

‘An item which was recovered from the man has since been confirmed as being a toy gun. ‘Nobody was injured during the incident.’

Inspector Middlehurst welcomed the swift actions of those who had spotted the man and alerted police officers about his behaviour.

He added: ‘We are grateful to the members of the public who contacted us for their vigilance.’

A spokesman for Highland Council said lessons had been suspended and doors locked after worried parents contacted the school.

He said: ‘Following the sighting of a male with a weapon, Inverlochy Primary School management made the decision to have an immediate lockdown until the situation was deemed safe.

‘The lockdown went very smoothly and, after correspondence with the police, normal classes resumed, as the person is in custody.

‘The school thanks those who phoned to inform them of the incident and also their staff and pupils, who reacted admirably.’